Photos by Michelle Hoffman
Samm Cragan, a freshman from Fort Meyers, Fla., wrote and performed “I hope you know who you are,” during Saturday’s ‘Best of’ Guitars Unplugged.

A moment in the spotlight

Guitars Unplugged Fall 2005: Students become stars for a night

Holly Arndt ARN02002@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Fifteen student rock star acts played in Best of Guitars Unplugged Saturday night, experiencing their five minutes of fame in a full Hart Auditorium in true BYU-Idaho fashion.

For college students who will probably never have record contracts, never be famous and may never give an autograph to anyone other than a Scroll reporter, Guitars Unplugged gave their musicianship a platform.

The night began, the house lights dimmed and spotlights aimed at The Arkansas Rednecks playing the first number, “Would You Love Me.”

The show included varying types of bands. A.D.D., who performed “Under My Skin,” became a band last Wednesday. One band member, Steven Hopkins a sophomore from Tracy Calif., said the secret to his band’s success, despite their short history together, is “um, talent.”

Other bands, like the one who performed “Cripple Creek” (Vinny Robinson, Lance Briggs, Joseph Potter and Seth Potter) came out of auditions feeling uncertain after their first-choice song was rejected for its lyrics. The wordless number they performed had no lyrics to dispute, and Robinson, a junior from Maple Valley, Wash., says the hassle was worth it. “This is such a good venue for students,” Robinson said.

Other partakers of the spotlight, 4 Star Daydream (Bradford Huntsman, Cory Belliston and Cassie Christiansen) played an original song, “Without You.”

“It’s fun to have people listen to the stuff you write,” said Belliston, a junior from Meridian, Idaho. Huntsman a senior from Rock Springs, Wyo., had never played for so many people before, but the thought of the spotlight is exciting, he said.

Some People’s Kids, who performed “All These Things that I Have Done,” have performed twice before, with some variation of band members. Guitars Unplugged is the school’s “small window of letting students feel special. We all need a spotlight,” said Beau Hunter, singer for Some People’s Kids

The band said that BYU-I needs more opportunities for students to have their own spotlight. To aspiring Guitars Unplugged stars, Some People’s Kids advise, pick the right song.

Kendall Brady and Daniel Barnes performed an original song, “Closure,” a piece students say reminds them of something written by Dashboard Confessional. “Everyone tells me that,” said Brady. Brady’s secret for success is constantly practicing. “It’s all I do!” he said.

Samm Cragan, a freshman from Fort Meyers, Fla., who wrote and performed “I Hope You Know Who You Are,” says that to be a star at Guitars Unplugged, perseverance is essential. “I do every show on campus,” Cragan said.

Bobby Fischer and the Checkers, who performed “Dare You to Move,” had different advice. Band member David King, a senior from Provo, Utah, said “Pick a song early.”

“And coordinate your schedules!” added Steve Smith, also of Bobby Ficsher and the Checkers.